Study tracks those who returned to Ireland during the Celtic Tiger

Shop St, Galway City - study will track those who returned to the west of ireland

Irish emigrants who returned to the west of Ireland during the Celtic Tiger are been asked to contribute to a study by the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

The aim of the study is to develop a “clearer understanding of the social and cultural impact of migration on Ireland and its people over the last 20 years”, accorded to Christina Noble, who is leading the research at University's geography department.

“The Celtic Tiger economic boom of the 1990s transformed Ireland from one of Europe’s poorer countries into one of its wealthiest,” she said yesterday, this resulted in a “surge in Irish emigrants returning home”.

There is little documentation recording the experiences of those who moved back, she noted.

“Interestingly many people did not return to the industrial centres of Dublin and Limerick but chose to establish themselves in more rural areas,” she said.

“This would suggest they were often returning to their birthplace or where their family were located, and were prioritising this in their decision to return over any economic factors,” she explained.

The study will focus on key issues such as emigrants motivations to resettle, their experiences of returning home and the challenges involved.